HRC60: HRHF condemns reprisals against civil society

Human Rights House Foundation statement

HRC60 – Item 5 – Interactive Dialogue – Reprisals

24 September 2025

Check against delivery.

Thank you, President, and we thank the Assistant Secretary-General for her work.

We wish to highlight two emblematic cases of reprisals.

First, in Azerbaijan, human rights defender Anar Mammadli remains behind bars. He was arrested on 29 April 2024, following his engagement with international partners, including in the context of COP29, and his organisation’s monitoring of Azerbaijan’s electoral environment. He had only just spoken at a side event here at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council a few weeks before his arrest. His detention has been condemned by UN experts as politically motivated. His case illustrates the risks faced by Azerbaijani civil society when they engage with the UN. We reiterate our call for his immediate and unconditional release.

Turning to the Russian Federation, in July last year, our organisation was designated an “undesirable organisation” under Russian law. The designation makes cooperation with Human Rights House Foundation a criminal offence for Russians. This is plainly a reprisal for our UN-focused advocacy. In recent months, the Russian authorities have accelerated their use of this tool and other forms of restrictive legislation. These actions form part of a broader pattern of reprisals designed to isolate Russian civil society from the United Nations and the international community.

President.

We ask the Assistant Secretary-General, what can the Human Rights Council do better to ensure that it is safe for civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Russia to fully engage in the work of the United Nations?

Thank you.